Sky Sports commentator David Croft has shared the only scenario that he can see that would see Max Verstappen join Mercedes in the future.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has a huge task on his hands to try and replace seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast, David Croft has outlined what he thinks will happen in the future for Max Verstappen as he races towards a fourth world championship.
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David Croft highlights one scenario that could see Max Verstappen join Mercedes
Formula 1 drivers don’t tend to abandon cars when they’re constantly running at the front of the grid.
Michael Schumacher enjoyed years of dominance at Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel was Red Bull’s first champion and Lewis Hamilton’s reign has only just come to an end.
The nature of F1 encourages champions to lean into the stability – and perhaps to some fans monotony – of sticking with one team when things are going well and running with it.
Red Bull are at the very top of their game right now and have been since the start of the 2022 season.
Max Verstappen has been the beneficiary and has matched Kimi Raikkonen’s total number of Formula 1 wins – 21 – in his last 23 races alone.
However, David Croft believes there’s one scenario that would see Max Verstappen abandon the Red Bull project and join Mercedes.
Toto Wolff is desperate to sign the Dutchman and would offer him terms that even exceed those given to Hamilton.
However, Croft doesn’t believe that’s the motivation for the 26-year-old…
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Max Verstappen could replace Lewis Hamilton on one condition
Asked whether he sees Verstappen making the switch to the Silver Arrows, Croft said: “I don’t think Max Verstappen is going to go to Mercedes.
“I really don’t see Max leaving unless and here’s the caveat, unless he knows and how he knows and how anyone knows, I don’t know, that the Mercedes engine in 2026 is going to be like the Mercedes engine in 2014.
“If he knows that, then he’s going to want to go. But otherwise, why give up a winning thing?
“And Red Bull are a winning thing at the moment and there are no guarantees from the outside that Mercedes will be that in 2026.”
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Could Red Bull Powertrains play a role in Max Verstappen’s future?
If, as David Croft suggests, Verstappen has an inkling that Mercedes are going to be a stronger outfit than Red Bull when the regulations change in 2026, then he will have to seriously consider his options next year.
George Russell is one of several drivers already signed up to 2025 and Toto Wolff has a lot of faith in the Brit.
There is also the looming introduction of 17-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli who could be on the F1 grid as early as next year.
However, if Wolff suddenly gets his man then all of those plans have to change and he might be calling on former colleague James Vowles at Williams to find Antonelli a seat on the grid next year.
Mercedes have a proven reputation when it comes to producing championship-winning power units.
Red Bull do not, and there is already talking in the paddock about Red Bull Powertrains with Horner leading an in-house project ahead of 2026 when Honda becomes partners with Aston Martin.
There are so many moving parts right now that every possibility is still on the table.
Max Verstappen will almost certainly be a Red Bull driver in 2025, but that hint of doubt is all Toto Wolff needs to continue his pursuit of one of Formula 1’s greatest drivers.
The post ‘Here’s the caveat’: David Croft now shares the one scenario that would see Max Verstappen join Mercedes appeared first on F1 Oversteer.